Starch tabling system



Oct. 23, 1934. H. w. cuRRY 1,977,792

V STARCH TABLING SYSTEM Filed May 16, 1952 y :rm/m13? T gi@ atented@11h23, 1934 lals sirenes 'mame srsrEMA Harry W. Curry, Kansas City,YMo., assignor to international Patents Development Company, Wlgton,Del., a corporation of Delaware application May 1s, 1932, serial No.611,624

This invention relates to the operation of tabling mixtures of starchgluten vand water, and the manufacture of starch from corn, forseparating the starch and the gluten. The

5 starch settles on the tables and the gluten being lighter, tails olfwith most of the Water from the ends of the tables. As a consequence thevelocities of the flow over the tables, controlled by the quantity ofthe mixture delivered to each of such tables per unit of time, is animportant feature in obtaining separation of the starch and gluten, onefrom the other, in as complete manner as possible. Hence, themaintenance-of uniform velocities over al1 of the tables in the factory,which tables may be at a number of different elevations and at differentdistances from the sources of supply, is a matter of great importance ininsuring as complete a separation as possible.

The primary object of this invention is to make possible, by certainnovel and improved arrangements and procedures, the maintenance of suchuniform tabling conditions. A further object is to provide a system ofoperation that will obviate the necessity of individual control of theflow to the tables severally. That is, the purpose is to automaticallyobtain uniformity of ow of the starch and gluten mixture over the tableswhich will result because of the free and unobstructed overow at thelower ends of the tables if the rate of supply is constant.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawing wherein:l

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional view, taken longitudinally of thetables showing the tabling arrangements at two elevations; and

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View of the tables at one elevation andtheir feeding arrangements.

Referring to the drawing: A designates a set of starch tables, and Banother set at a lower elevation. These tables ordinarily are shallowtroughs about 110 feet long with a pitch of iive inches from end to end,and are divided into channels 10 by longitudinally "I extending strips11,

the channels being ordinarily about two feet Wide.

Arranged above the tables at each elevation is a supply tank, two tanksbeing shown, designated C and D, respectively. Each. tank is providedwith an overflow pipe which extends to the tank at the lower elevation.For example, tank C is-provided with an overflow pipe 12, preferablywith a funnel 13 at its upper end. This pipe discharges surplus liquorin tank C to tank D, so as maintain the liquor in the vessel at uniformlevel indicated at c. The liquor is supplied to vessel C through pipe14. The vessel is provided with an outlet pipe l5, controlled by a valve16. The outlet 4pipe leads to a common header 17 for the upper set oftables A. A series of perforated headers 18 are arranged below theheader 17, one header 18 over each of the tables A, that is', over eachset of channels 10. The liquor is sent from header 17 through pairs ofbranch pipes 19, 19 which are connected with the headers 18 near theextremities of the headers. These branch pipes are provided with valves20. A valve connection 21 is shown between outlet pipe 15 andtheoverflow pipe 12 for clean-out purposes. Preferably the headers 17 areprovided at their extremities with air vent pipes 22 which extend abovethe normallevel. of the liquor in the supply vessels.

The arrangements in connection with tables B and supply vessel D are thesame as described in connection with tables A and supply vessel C, andare given corresponding numerals. The overflow pipe 12 from vessel Dleads to the supply vessel (not shown) at the next lower level.

It will be understood that the drawing is diagrammatical. No effort hasbeen made to show the pipes, tanks, and tables in their properproportions.

By the arrangements shown and described the quantities of starch andgluten liquor delivered to the several channels of each of the starchtables will be uniform, or substantially so, regardless of the elevationof the table or its distance from the source of supply. The factor offriction in the headers 1'7 is compensated by a proper setting of thevalves 20. Once these valves have been set,A

the system operates4 automatically by gravity. It would be understoodthat the valves in the pipe sections 21 are automatically closed.

I claim:

In combination with two starch tables arranged at two differentelevations and comprising sets of adjacentlyarranged channels, a pipesystem for gravity distribution of starch and gluten liquor to thetables and a control means for feeding said liquor to the tables at asubstantially uniform rate comprising a supply vessel above each table,an overflow pipe in each supply vessel for maintaining the starch andgluten liquor at the same constant level in each vessel, the overflowpipe in the upper vessel leading to-the lower vessel, a supply pipe forsupplying starch and gluten liquor to the upper vessel, a valve in thebottom of each supply vessel, a main header for each supply vesselconnected with said valve, each of said main headers extendinghorizontally above the upper end of each table and substantiallyparallel with said upper end, .air vent pipes extending from the mainheaders to a point above the normal level of the respective supplyvessels, and similarly positioned separate headers, provided withdischarge openings for the several sets of adjacently arranged channels,said separate headers being supplied at opposite ends from the mainheader.

HARRY W. CURRY.

